Ruxner, Georg; Amman, Jost; Melchior, Johan .
Thurnier Buch. Von Anfang, Ursachen, Ursprung und Herkommen der Thurnier im Heyligen Romischen Reich Teutscher Nation, wie viel offentlicher Landthurnier von Keyser Heinrich dem Ersten dieses Namens an biss auff den jetztregierenden Keyser Maximilianden Andern und in welchen Stetten die alle gehalten Alles jetzunder von neuwem zusammen getragen, mit schonen neuwen Figuren, sonderlich auch der adelischen Wappen, auffs schonest zugericht .Getruckt zu Franckfurt am Mayn: Bey Georg Raben in Verlegung Sigmund Feyrabends und Simon Huters, MDLXVI [1566]. - Three parts in one volume, small folio, external size 323x208mm, pp: title page, vi,iv,I-CCXLIII,vi; title page, vi,I-LXXXI, A-Z6, AA-SS6, included in the pagination are title pages to parts 2 & 3, printed in german gothic black letter, full page and double columns, title printed in red and black with a large woodcut vignette of the Emperor's court, verso blank. Illustrated throughout with large woodcuts of tournaments and other festivities, & a double page woodcut of a tournament between Eiii & Eiiii as called for - cut close to fore-edge margin but not affecting image. Numerous woodcut coats of arms, many with contemporary hand colouring in red, black, beige, occasional purple & green, often crudely executed, the Dedication on pp ii-iv, ("Vorrede") to Ferdinand archduke of Austria, pp iv after the Dedication includes the address 'An die gestrengen Edien ' both signed by Sigmund Feyerabend and dated 1566 & the following leaf with woodcut vignette of Victory with Latin verses by Hartmann Schopper, verso blank. The illustrations depict jousting tournaments, and also banquets, music-making, courtship and festivities that went along with the tournaments and military marches and activity that were the real impetus for the tournament and its particular culture. Bound in full ornate blind stamped pigskin over wooden boards, with date 1568 to front board and the contents recased at a later date, with clasps mounted on leather, raised bands & repair to tail of spine & rear board, worn & uniformly browned, however sound & tight with the text in very good condition. Part One contains the description of 36 tournaments which had taken place in German and Swiss towns from the 10th to the 15th century. Part Two consists of an account of the tournaments, skirmishes, processions, festivities and other amusements which took place at Vienna from May 2 - June 1563, with the names and coats of arms of all persons taking part therein. Part Three is concerned with the tournaments held in celebration of the ceremonial entrance of Emperor Charles V into Bintz on August 22, 1549 with 12 large woodcuts. Ruxner's book is of great genealogical interest and an authentic source for German chivalry and heraldry, the customs and usages in German tournaments. Topics include medieval tournaments, festivals, heraldry, Knights and knighthood. Duplicate numbering: leaf CXCII misnumbered as CXCIII, in turn CXCIII misnumbered as CXCXIII, leaf Ss[iv] misnumbered as Ssiij. Only right leaves are numbered. This is the Third edition, the first illustrated with woodcuts by Jost Amman (cf. Lipperheide) and with the appendix of Johannes von Francolin. Important tournament book in three parts with large woodcut on title, woodcut printer's device and doublepage woodcut plate as well as 122 woodcuts in the text, many of them nearly halfpage. This edition is enlarged with the addition of new woodcuts attributed to Jost Amman and Hans Bocksberger. [Attributes: Signed Copy; Hard Cover]
[Bookseller: Offas Dyke Books]